Checklist for building a home personal computer
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Central Processing Unit - processes instructions, performs calculation and manages I/O
- Manufacturer - Intel (current technology, hi price, reliable) v/s AMD (cheaper yet current technology, runs hotter). Per unconfirmed reports Intel shuts down if overheated. AMD burns.
- Speed
- Internal cache
Circuit board of computer into which we plug in all components.
- Manufacturer: ATX
- External cache
- # of PCI slots: 5 (over kill)
- Univ. Serial Bus (USB) controller:
- AGP Bus speed: 8xMemory
- Type Supported: DDR
- Bus speed: 800/533/400
Random Access Memory for non-permanent storage of information
- Reliable vendor
- Size: At least 512MB
Software that controls the activities of the computer making sure all the components work smoothly. It controls hardware, runs applications and manages information
- Compatibility with underlying hardware.
- Ability to run applications desired.
- Reliability - relatively bug free
- Cost - Linux is freely available, MS Windows is not
Display unit
- CRT, LCD or TFT: In increasing order of cost
- VGA displays 16 colors at 640x480 resolution for larger images. Higher resolution SVGA show more colors at 1280x1024 can show more detailed (and therefore smaller) images.
- Size (inches): 17” minimum good size CRT screen (9 to 12 inches for LCD). Good image quality
- Dot Pitch: 0.28mm or less. 72dpi images (compare to printer resolution of 300dpi)
- Non-interlaced more expensive but provides less strain than Interlaced.
- Higher refresh rate (72 Hz or better) for reducing eye strain
- Reliable vendor with Energy Star rating, low EMR (electro magnetic radiation)
Hard disk drive for permanent storage of information including operating system, applications and data.
- Manufacturer: Reliable vendors are Maxtor, IBM or Seagate
- Type: IDE/SCSI interface: IDE cheaper
- Capacity: 40GB is plenty for casual home use
- Storage capacity: 40GB is plenty for casual use
- Disk speed (RPM): 7200 not 10000. Higher speeds 10000 rpm tend to heat up more
- Short seek time. Large buffer
- Amount of HD cache: 2MB min
Portable store for applications and data
- Manufacturer:
- Type: DVD drives can read CDs but not vice-versa
- CDROM capacity 600MB. DVD capacity 4.7GB (6 CDs)
- Speed (Write/Rewrite/Read): Faster speed gives non-jerky animation. Minimum Quad (4x) at 600 kbps speed.
- Access time between 150ms to 300ms. Lower the better.
Network Interface Card for connecting to other computers including high speed Internet
On board or dedicated?
- On board will mean overhead to CPU. On board will mean overhead to CPU
On board or dedicated?
- Minimum 16bit sampling and 44.1KHz sampling rate
- Full duplex card lets you listen and talk at same time
- Built in amplifier of 10 to 30 watts
- When would you need theatre quality sound connected to the stereo?
On board or dedicated?
- Video games require dedicated video card.
- Video RAM is specifically designed for this purpose
- Basic 64MB VGA card costs $40. For additional TV output and DVI add another $35
Input device for typing information
- 101 keys: Qwerty layout
- Ergonomic or standard
Point and click device
- Type: Ball/Trackball/Optical
- Form factor: Tower ATX for compact shape.Otherwise desktop
- Cooling system.
- In built power supply – minimum 200w
- 7 slots for NIC, Sound etc
- At least 1x 5.25” front accessible bay for CD/DVD drive.
- 1 to 7 drive bays for HDD
- 3x3.5” internal bays for ??
- Computers Simplified - maranGraphics ISBN 0-7645-6008-5
I'd like to acknowledge the immense help we received from Jarl Nilsson. Email feedback, including comments/corrections/suggestions and criticisms and I'll be happy to add your name to this list